Exploring Substance Use in Canada. A Curriculum

Transcript:Exploring Substance Use in Canada. A Curriculum:
Exploring Substance Use in Canada. A Curriculum for Social Service Workers Chapter 8: Treatment Approaches Learning Objectives: Describe how treatment in this field is offered on a spectrum Describe both Western and Indigenous treatment options Describe how the level/type of substance use is related to the types of services offered Summarize trauma-informed practice Some Western options that have been successful in treating substance use disorders include: Withdrawal Management (Detoxification) Some substances like alcohol have such a strong impact that they can cause death. Alcohol withdrawal requires medical intervention when a person wants to slow down or stop. This service is often referred to as detoxification (detox) or withdrawal management. Withdrawal management, is a medically assisted/managed program. Medications and devices can be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, and treat co-occurring conditions. Withdrawal management is not in itself “treatment,” but only the first step in the treatment process. In-Patient Withdrawal Management If a person has access to a provincial health card, in-patient withdrawal management may be referred by a health care provider, or it may also be self-referred. If people have the financial means, they may pay privately or access funds through an insurance provider for private in-patient withdrawal management at a private facility. All individuals are screened to see if they meet the criteria for in-patient withdrawal management. Screening is a tool to determine which service an individual may benefit from, based on their substance use. Screening may highlight some of the areas of intersectionality of substance use. In-patient withdrawal management is provided by all provincial health care services. In Nova Scotia, in-patient withdrawal management is provided by the Nova Scotia Health, who “provides medical, supervised withdrawal management and support to individuals that require treatment and support to manage their withdrawal symptoms from substances such as alcohol and drugs” (Nova Scotia Health, n.d.c, para. 1). In-patient treatment is also offered by privately owned facilities in Nova Scotia, in a beautiful facility with private doctors, registered nurses, and counsellors, all for the cost of approximately $600/day. Some insurance companies cover the costs of private treatment; however, for those without private health insurance, treatment facilities like these may be out of reach. Outpatient Withdrawal Management People living in Nova Scotia who have a NS health card may have access to out-patient withdrawal management. This program “combines functions of an outpatient (day program) withdrawal management (detox) and structured treatment, providing the support